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Attacks on Ships by Pirates diminished For The 6 Months of 2012

Decrease in Somali piracy partially offset by increase in attacks in Gulf of Guinea

pirate attacks decresased by 1/3rd in the first half of 2012, led by a decrease in Somali piracy. Efforts from the international naval and the changes by shipping lines of best management practices and hardened vessels, the International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau said Tuesday in its latest global piracy report.

The IMB warned, however, that these numbers were offset by a growing number of attacks in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea.

177 incidents reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Center in the first six months of 2012, compared to 266 incidents for the same period in 2011.

The report showed that 20 vessels were hijacked worldwide, with a total number of 334 crew members taken hostage. There were a further 80 vessels boarded, 25 vessels fired upon and 52 reported attempted attacks. At least four crew members were killed.

The decrease in the overall number is primarily due to the decline in Somali piracy activity, dropping from 163 incidents in the first six months of 2011 to 69 in 2012. Somali pirates also hijacked fewer vessels, down from 21 to 13. Nonetheless, Somali piracy continues to remain a serious threat.

“Somali pirate attacks cover a vast area, from the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea and Somali Basin, threatening all shipping routes in the northwest Indian Ocean,” said IMB director Pottengal Mukundan.

The report attributed the decline in Somali piracy in part to the preemptive and disruptive counter-piracy tactics employed by naval forces. This includes the disruption of mother vessels and Pirate Action Groups. “The naval actions play an essential role in frustrating the pirates. There is no alternative to their continued presence,” Mukundan said.

The effective deployment of best management practices, ship hardening and, in particular, the increased use of privately contracted armed security personnel also contributed to the falling numbers.

As of June 30, Somali pirates were still holding 11 vessels and 218 crew, 44 of whom were being held ashore in unknown locations and conditions.

The decline in Somali piracy, however, was partly offset by an increase in attacks in the Gulf of Guinea, where 32 incidents, including five hijackings, were reported in 2012, versus 25 in 2011. In Nigeria alone there were 17 reports, compared to six in 2011. Togo reported five incidents including a hijacking, compared to no incidents during the same time last year.